Vehicle wheel



C. S.,ASH

VEHICLE WHEEL Nov. 9, 1937.

Original Filed Jan. 5l, 1925 i l l INVENTOR (/MrZes 5./{5/2 ATTORNEYS PmntwlY Nov. 9, 1937V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mesne assignments,

to The Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Original application January 31, 1925, Serial No. 5,998. Divided and this application June 25, 1931, Serial No. 546,881. Renewed July 19,

2 Claims.

The invention relates to vehicle wheels and has for one of its objects to so construct a wheel that it is reinforced by a brake drum and that it positions this brake drum. Other objects are to provide an improved construction of spoked wheel and to provide an improved mounting for a wheel of this type. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a transverse section through a portion of a wheel and its hub showingan embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

l5 The wheel has its web or body formed with the hub portion I and the radial spokes 2, which latter f are integrally united at their inner ends `to the hub portion and radiate outwardly from the hub portion in spaced apart relation providing the axially disposed openings 3 therebetween. The web or body may be a sheet metal stamping, as shown, in which case the openings are perforations, or the web or body may be a casting.

Both the hub portion and the spokes are hollow, the hub portion having at its inner edge the axially extending annular flange .or rib 4 providing the axial opening to receive the barrel 5 of the wheel or inner hub 6. This latter has the usual outwardly extending flange 1 against which the annular flange or rib 5 bears or abuts and to which the web or body of the wheel is demountably secured by the bolts 8 and the `nuts 9, the bolts extending through openings in the front wall of the hub portion and through openings in the annular flange. As shown, the parts of the web or'body of the wheel adjacent the openings or perforations 3 are bent over to form the stifening flanges or ribs Il) with the inner portions of these anges or ribs bearing against or abutting the annular ilange I of the wheel or inner hub when the demountable wheel is secured in place. The

bolts 8 are located to extend intermediate the` points of engagement of the ange or rib 4 with the annular flange 1 and the inner portions of the flanges or ribs I0 with the annular flange 1. More specifically, the spokes 2 are preferably substantially C-shaped in cross section to present the appearance at the front side of the wheel ofv 55 permitting the interior of the hollow web'or body of the wheel to be thoroughly coated so that it will not rust and soon deteriorate.

At the desired points outwardly of each spoke the ears Il are formed thereon and preferably integral therewith for the attachment to the web or body of the wheel of the inwardly extending flange I2 of the brake drum I3, which latter is detachably secured to the ears by suitable means such as the bolts I4 and the nuts I5. The side Walls of the spokes 2 are formed with the portions I6 which extend over and engage the Aperiphery of the brake flange I1 of the brake drum, these portions thus forming centering means for the brake drum. 'I'he front-side vof the brake drum and a portion of the rear open side of the hollow spokes are preferably closed bya thin disk I8 of sheet metal interposed between the spokes 2 and,

the ange I2 of the brake drum and extending inwardly to meet the outer edge of 'the annular l flange 'I of the wheel or inner hub, this disk' being also secured in place by the bolts and the` nuts I5. l

' Securing of the brake 4drum I3 to the spokes 2 'greatly strengthens thesespokesso that ademountable rim may be mounted directly upon their ends Without the necessity of a wheel felly orv permanent rim to connect these ends. The outer end of each spoke is formed with a laterally extending ange or end wall I9 integral with the spoke and in this flange is formed the depression orrecess 20 to receive the projection or lug 2| struck inwardly from the base of the detachable or demountable rim 22. The rim is clamped in place with the projections or lugs seated in the depressions or recesses by the clamps 23 and the securing bolts 24 and the nuts 25. 'I'he rim is therefore supported only at spaced apart points directly upon the outer ends of the spokes, thus doing away with the usual felly or permanent rim and securing a construction which is very light in weight yet amply strong and rigid.

The present application is a division of my col pending application Serial Number 5,998, filed January 31, 1925 and entitled Wheel unit sets for motor vehicles.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a wheel, the combination with a hub prov vided with an annular flange projecting there-- from, of a wheel body provided with an-axially disposed annular rib on the inner edge thereof adapted to bear against said flange, said wheel body being also provided with axially disposed perforations, the parts of the wheel body adjacent said perforations being bent over to form stiftening ribs, the inner portions of said ribs bearing against said hub flange with fastening bolts passing through said wheel body and said hub ange said first mentioned ange, said spokes being provided With spaced side walls connecting into each other at their inner portions and adapted to bear against said first mentioned flange, and means i for securing said wheel body to said inner hb,

comprising members passing through said hub portion andlrst mentioned flange intermediate the points of engagement of. said ange on said hub portion and said rst mentioned ange and y oi' the inner portions of said side walls and said lo first mentioned ange.

CHARLES S. ASH. 

